Controlling means for automobiles.



D. P. Z'APF.

CONTROLLING MEANS FOR AUTOMDBILES.

LPPLIoATIoN FILED APR. 12. 1910.

1,055,435, Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Witnesses, l,due/wor;

' I l 4 u DLP. ZAP?. ONTROLLING MEANS POR AUIIVIOBILS.A

' APPLICATION FILED APR. ,l 1,055,435. Y 12 o Patented Mar.11,1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

To all 'whom it may concern:

.DANIEL r. zur, or cANAs'roTA, NEW YORK.'

` CONTROLVIIS'G MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILES. i

Application med April 12,1910. serial Np. $54,939.

Be it known that I, DANIEL P. Zarr, o Canastota, in the county ofMadison, in the State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements` in .Controlling Means `f o.r -Automobiles, ofwhich thefollowing, taken in connection with the accompanyingdraw1ngs,is a full,clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in. controlling means-for automobiles and refers-more particularly to the construction andrelative association orarrangement of the' controlling members for thesteering' Wheel, clutch, speed changing gears, 'emerf gency brake,muiler cut-out, carbureter, commutator and accelerator and signal oralarm.

The steering shaft and its supporting column or post in which' it isrevoluble are usually disposed in an upwardlyand rearwardlyinclinedposition,l the supporting column being secured -at its base tothe body of the car leaving aconsiderable length of the 'post and'steering shaftunsupported, so that there is always more or lessvibration of theA steering wheel during .the operation of the machine.the handsl and arms of theoperator and produces a'greater orless amountof numbness or partial paralysis which frequently causes the operator tolose controlofj the machine and often results in serious accident. It isalso customary to have the controlling lever` for the emergency brakevat the outside of one end of -the seat or chassls some distance from thesteering wheel and to also locate other controlling devices on differentparts of the machine more or less remote from the steering wheel,thereby/making it necessary for the operator vto temporarily losecontrol of the steering wheel whilefo erating one ot these remotecontrolling devlces which also renders .the Operation ot 'the machinemore or less dangerous.

The mainobject is t'o bring all of these controlling elements togetherin compact space and in 'close-proximity to the steering wheel where-they are readily accessible from the normal steering-positionof theoperator.

Another object is 't'o provide a. suitable support. for the steeringpost and s hatt near the steering wheelto prevent excesslve v1- brationthereof.

A further' object is to utilize these sup- Specication of LettersPatent` This vibration is transmitted to Patented Mai-.114913.

.porting stays for the reception of several of the controlling devices.

A still further 'object is to arrange the hand 'lever and footlever forthe emergency brakes coaxial upn the same journal or bearing and in suchmanner that a single connection to Athe brake serves for both levers.

Another object is to associate these brakel levers in such manner thatthe pedal lever may be operated independently ofthe hand lever and thatthe operation of the hand lever will also operate the pedal lever.

Other objects and u'ses'relating to the relative arrangement andconstruction of the controlling mechanism will be brought out in thefollowing description.

' In the drawin sLF'gure l is a rear elevation of the ent-1re`controllin mechanism, omitting the steering wheel. ig. 2 is a .top planof the same.l Figs. 3 and 4 are enf larged sectional views takenrespectively on lines 3 3, Fig. 1, and 4 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sideelevation of the controlling mechaf' nism seenin Fig. 1, showing lthesteering wheel, but omitting'the u per portion ofthe emergency brakelever. 4igs. 6, 7' and 8 are enlarged sectional views taken respectivelyon 1ines'6 6, Fig. 5; 7 7, Fig. l and 8 8, Fig. 5, the central portionsof the tubular columns being broken away and partly in elevation in Fig.6.

ln carrying out the objects stated, a pair of tubular columns 1 aredisposed in upright parallel planes in close proximity to each other andpermanently connected at the .top and bottom by suitable yokes 2 and 3the lower yoke Q having an inclined foot 4.- adapted to be secured inany suitable manner to the inclined foot rest 5 on the bottom of thecar, said foot rest being shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5. These columnsare comparatively small and arranged in close proximity to the front.board or dash 6 shown by dotted lines, so as not to interfere with thefree movement of the operator when entering or leaving. the car or whenseated.A said columns eX- tending upwardly1 a suliicient distance toreceive and support the rear end of an upwardly and rearwardly incliningsteering post 7 in which is rotatable a steering shaft 8 l The steeringpost 7 maybe secured at its lower frontend in any well known -manner,notl necessary to herein illustrate and describe, to the bod;T orchassis of the machine in such position as to permit the lower front endof its steering shaft -S- to be connected in the usual manner to asteerlng gear, not shown;

The upper rear end' of the tubular'post is disposed in an inclined planeintersecting that of the tubular columns 1 v between wardly a shortdistance beyond the yoke.

The steering shaft -8 extends through and some distance beyond itssupporting post -7- where it is provided with aisuitable steering wheel-l0-, the latter being therefore located in proximity to the yoke -3 andupper end of the tubular columns -1-. The portions of the uprig-htcolumns are spaceda sulicient distance apart to recelve between them`thesteering post #JI- and an additional underlying tubular shaft -ll-i, thelatter being also disposed in an inclined plane parallel with thesteering post --7--. Closely fitting within and extending through thetubular shaft -llis another tubular shaft A2-fwhich is joui'-,

naled at its upper rear end in a suitable bearing w-13-- in the yoke3,-said inner tubular shaft extending a short distance through the yokefor receiving an operating lever 14- which is rigidly secured thereto.The tubular member -11 is journaled upon this inner tubular shaft l2-and terminates in close proximity to the lower front side of the yoke 3-where it is provided with an operating lever -15- also ri idlysecured'thereto.

Theower side of the yoke -3- is provided with a row of teeth orsei-'rations -I6- concentric with the axis of the tubuwhich are slidablymounted in sockets -19- in the levers llland -l5 and are spring pressedto their holding positions v-illustrate or constitutes the cont-rollingmeans for a commutator, not shown, but which is adapted to be connectedin any well known manner to the lower front end of the sleeve -11-.These two levers llland elli are located one in advance of the other inthe direction of length of the tubular member -lland at opposite ends ofthe yoke i3- cin close proximity to the steering wheel -10- from whichposition they may be readily manipulated to control the carbureteiandcommutator.

An accelerating valve rod 21- is extended through and rotatable orslidable within. the inner tubular member --12- and is provided at itsupper rear end wit-h an operating knob or hand piece -22- by whichit'may be adjusted to control an ac-l celerating valve, not necessary toherein:l (scribe, it being understoodg that the lower\rear end of thisacceleratingl valverod may connected in any welll .knoi'vn manner to anywell known form ofi accelerating valve. .The hand piece Q2- for saidvalve rodis also in close proximity to the steering wheel 10- where itmay: be easily'manipulated by the hand of the? operator withoutch'angingpositions. l

The yoke -2- is provided wir: up` wardly .projecting parallel tubularsockets ,.-23- in t-he upper ends 'of which are rigidly secured bybrazing'or otherwise the lower ends of the upright tubular columns -1-,the lower ends of said sockets receiving and support-ing revolublesleeves -Q4- and -25- having laterally project-` ing crank arms -26- and7 27- adapted to be respectively connected toaspeed chang-v ing gear andto thehusual clutch in an)l well known manner', not necessary to hereinillust-rate and describe,

The sleeves 24- aiid '-25- a're secured by brazing or otherwise to thelower ends of separately revoluble upright tubes 28- andv -29- locatedwithin and, extending through their respective tubular columns -l-iandhaving their upper ends ]our naled in and extending somedistance-upwardly beyond suitable-bearings "-30- in the .yoke -'3-.Thisupper yoke -3- 1s also provided with parallel tubular s ockets -31-which are brazed or otherwise se- 'cured to the upper .ends of thecolumns -1- for holding said ends in 'fixed relation to each other.v I

Secured tothe upper ends of the tubular shafts 28- and H29- preferablykeyed thereto for removal are suitable operating levers 3Q-"- and -33-carrying similar pawls -34- and 35'- which are normallysjring pressedinto engagement with y their respective racks -32- and 33- i by springs-36-, as best seen 1n Fig. 4, Q said pawls being retracted against theaci tion of their springs by levers S7- and inga rod or linkC-eS-- whichis :adapted to be connected to any lsuitable. form ofbrake, notnecessaryto herein illustrate or;

581- and ,links 4and -40- by n-hich thelevers lare connected' to theirre- {zpective pawls, the levers 37- and '-38- n being pivoted to theirlevers .-32- and describe. A

S3-f' The hand lever '.^5O is lprovided*with a. 70

The lever -32- and tubular shaft 28- pawl -54- which normally spring"togethen with the corresponding. sleeve pressed into 4engagein'ent witha toothed' ,Q-Q-e and crank arm `A264- constitute rack` 55, the latterbeing secured to the means for controlling a speed changing yoke e474-concentric 'with the axis'oithe in, gear, fthe .lever jlpeingi;vdisposed in journal -l'naring -48- and together with i just :trent -ofthev said pawl serves to hold the Vbrakelever in its adjusted position;4This lever is provided steerng' Wheel? #10T-and .is movable hori- With apawl releasing lever -'-56- pivoted thereto and connected .to the pawlbya link "lio'ntally" around "the" rackl said' 'le v.hier heiiigheld inits`a'djusted rposition by l5 -the`paw1 In'v like manner-fthe lever n+57-, as best seen in Fig. 1.4 80

The pedal lever -51- is provided with a bearing -58- 'some distancebelow the' withthe sleeve Q5-- andcrank arm -27- constitute .means forcontrolling `a .clutchnot shown, by which the= engine-shaft; is

running gear of the vehicle. o 1

lYVithin and extending through'the tubuted anddisconnected to and fromthe.-

flax shaft isa rock shaft having may tothe mariani-:216+ and aa tee themuffler vcut-out.' -referred to. Af similar. .rock shaft isV extendedthrough and .some distance beyond the opposite ends" of 1oconstrilction, not shown. 5 The upper endof 6o ing -48- preferably atthe front side of.

' fparallel supporting columns, .a yoke connectling the.. upper endsofsaid columns, a yoke they ma this rock shaft-Q is also' provided with anoperating. member ,45-7-which together with the rock vshaft 4S-fandcrank-arm- 4A-constitute the means. for controlling '45 'the operationof said signal, alarm or Whistle.

It is apparent` upon reference .tothe foregoing description andaccompanying drawings that the controllmgmembers for. the' 5ocarbureter,.'commutator and accelerator and .also for the speed changinggear, clutch,

muffler cut-ont and whistleare all' locatedjin close. proximity to andwithin easy reaching distance ofthe steering wheel *101'- where y bemanipulated by the operator.. without changing his position. A yoke 47,-is secured to and connects 'the intermediate portions of the columns +1-and carries a shaft for journalllnear` -the columns.' Upon this shatt isjournaled an emergency bra ke hand lever 5G-f anda pedal or fooi brakelever -51-, one of said levers, as --51--, being provided with a foraxisof-the shaft @4S-f and adapted tobe engaged by a pendent arm orshoulderl .-594- on the lower end ofthe .hand lever 50-,7s'o a's tooperate the pedal .lever when the hand lever is operated andat the s ametime permit-settle vpedal lever to 4be` operated independently .of the'hand'lever for opera-ting. the brake.`

By, arranging the steering-'post and columns 1n intersecting planes inthe manner described and yoking the1 n. together. near their ends, it isevidentthat .the vibration .o;f the steering wheel Will'be reduced tovamlnimum, and that 'by making the columns tubular the rock shafts-fo' roperating .the main clutch, s eed changing geas,' muliier cut-out `andWhistle controlling valve may be passed therethrough orjournaledltherein Without taking u'p any more room and at thesame timebringingthe several'operating 'levers for such parts into closeproximity withv the steering Wheel Where they may be readily manipulatedAby theoperator without. his changing. lhis position or distracting vhisattention from the path of movement of the vehicle. These columns andtheir yokes also serve as supporting mediums for the rock shafts, forthe steering gear, accelerator, carbureter and commutator as well as forthe brake, so thatpractically all ofthe controlling-devices ,necessaryinthe .operation of amachine ofthis character are cent-ralized orbrought 'within a compact space Within easy reaching, distance froml'the steering wheel, the-location of the hand lever for the brake'mechanism 'being particularly advantageous'due to thefact that itisvdirectly wheel.

What I' claim isz)4 1. A supportfor the-controlling members under and,inl f rontof .the ,steeringy of an automobile opera-ting mechanism,comprising a pair of' hollow-'vertical1y-disp'osed carried by thecolumns intermediate their ends, 'each of vsaid yokesv carrying andforma third yoke connecting the lower ends of said columns.

2. A support for the controlling members" of an automobile operatingmechanism, conlthem at their upper ends, a yoke carried by' the posts attheir upper ends and constitut- :o ing a support for the steering post,a yoke connecting the posts at their lower ends and a yoke carried bythe. posts intermediate their ends and constituting a support forcont-rolling elements of-the mechanism.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my handon this 8th day ofApril'1910.

- DANIEL P. ZAPF. Witnesses:

f H. E. CHASE,

II. L. HUMPHREY.

